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GREENSBORO -- As the sun struggled up through the fog Monday morning, many across the city used the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday as an excuse to sleep in.

But many of the city's college students were up early, taking part in the national King Day of Service.

"It should really be a day on, not a day off," said Tatiana Walker, a freshman at Bennett College. "That's the best way to celebrate Martin Luther King, to serve your community the way he did."

Walker and several friends volunteered at the Habitat for Humanity ReStore on High Point Road, helping sort through donations. The store was one of a number of places in the city that saw so many volunteers they turned people away.

"To some people it's still a holiday," said Toi Rice, a junior at Bennett. "But I think more and more people are getting the message - this year especially."

When asked what's so special about this year Rice smiles and opens her jacket to reveal a colorful Barack Obama T-shirt.

Rice is from Chicago, where she used to help build Habitat houses. She credits the former senator from her home state with bringing attention to the Day of Service as president-elect.

"It's a year of change and he's showing that," Rice said. "He's not just talking about it, he's out there volunteering today, too."

Volunteers of all ages agreed - Obama's presidential win re-energized their commitment to King's memory.
"When you give back like this you really do feel like you're continuing his legacy," said Sharon Quate, a 46-year-old student at Greensboro College with Obama's face emblazoned on her own sparkling T-shirt. "And this year it feels like his dream is really has come true."

Volunteers from N.C. A&T turned out in force at the ReStore, the Urban Ministry Clothing Bank on West Lee Street and the Oak Hearst Senior Citizen Home on Dexter Avenue.

Martin Langdon, a senior at A&T, spent the morning sorting clothes at the clothing bank. He said it was the first time he'd volunteered anywhere - and it gave him important perspective.

"My generation hasn't been that into volunteering and doing community service maybe as other generations," Langdon said. "That's sad, but it's the truth. You come out and do it for a day and you see how hard the people who keep these programs going are really working. And it makes you think maybe you should be doing more all year long, to do your part."

Langdon said he would start looking for a regular volunteering gig this semester - and he plans to make the King Day of Service an annual tradition.

"I will most definitely be doing it again next year," he said. "In fact, I'm going to be bringing my friends."

Contact Joe Killian at 373-7023 or joe.killian@news-record.com